DOH alarmed over shortage of anti-TB drugs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed alarm over the shortage of anti-tuberculosis drugs, saying the existing supply will not cover over 365,000 TB patients targeted for treatment this year.

Stocks of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in national and regional warehouses are only good for 189,647 patients until year-end, the DOH said.

“This is still short of the remaining 365,998 adult patients that we aim to treat for the remainder of the year,” the agency said.

International partners of the DOH earlier noted the global scarcity of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in rifampicin-based drugs.

These partners include the Global Fund, Stop TB Partnership, US Agency for International Development and World Health Organization.

The DOH pointed out the unsuccessful procurement of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs by the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau in October 2023 and December 2023.

Potential bidders who backed out cited the fluctuating dollar exchange rate, scarcity of the active ingredient in rifampicin-based drugs and increased freight costs, the DOH noted.

“Given these two unsuccessful procurements, ongoing preparations for another bidding are already underway. Should this succeed, the earliest that we can have the items is January 2025,” the DOH said.

Local government units and the private sector were called on by the DOH to procure their own supply of anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Private pharmacies, drugstore owners and retailers and drug manufacturers were also asked to support the government by selling available supplies at an affordable cost.

Cervical cancer

Meanwhile, the DOH is considering HPV vaccinations for young female students in private schools.

The human papillomavirus vaccine prevents cervical cancer.

Global supply of HPV vaccines is constrained due to limited production and high costs, the DOH noted.

“As a result, the DOH prioritizes providing the HPV vaccine to young adolescent girls. This strategy aims to reach this population comprehensively, as the vaccine is highly effective in this group, thereby offering strong protection against cervical cancer,” Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.

Inoculations will be primarily administered in public schools to ensure equitable access.

The DOH lauded the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines’ initiative to promote HPV immunization.

In a letter, the group reminded Catholic schools to ensure that students’ HPV vaccination is complete, noting that HPV vaccination is encouraged for children aged nine to 14, as well as measles-rubella and tetanus-diphtheria for Grade 1 and Grade 7 students.